Former Steelers Massive Offensive Tackle Signs with Jaguars
Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Fred Johnson is signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 2025 season.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Fred Johnson is signing a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter.
Johnson, 27, began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2019 and signed with the Steelers shortly after.
The massive 6-foot-7, 326-pound offensive tackle made the Steelers initial 53-man roster but did not play in any games for Pittsburgh and was waived five months later.
Johnson was then claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals, who he would spend the next couple of seasons with. From 2019-21, he served as a backup offensive lineman in Cincinnati.
However, in 2022, the Bengals released Johnson. He signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers not long after, but was waived that November.
That’s when Johnson signed to the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles. Following the 2022 season, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles, and the next season, won the backup tackle position in training camp, which earned him a new two-year contract.
In Week 3 of the 2024 season, Johnson stepped in during the second half of the Eagles’ 15-12 win over the New Orleans Saints after starting offensive tackle Lane Johnson left the game injured. Johnson again played in the regular season finale against the New York Giants as the Eagles rested their starters.
He won Super Bowl LIX with the Eagles, who defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22, and became a free agent following the 2024 season.
The Steelers already have their starting offensive tackles in Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu for the 2025 season, but it is a bit surprising they didn’t entertain a potential reunion with Johnson this offseason.
Pittsburgh is still in need of a swing backup offensive tackle. Given Johnson’s previous experience and familiarity with the team, he could have been just that. Unfortunately, that is now off the table.